Recruiting News: Top programs race to land 2027s

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The opening of the two-way communication between college coaches and players on June 15 for the 2027 class was just over a month ago, and as of July 17 there have already been 50 players who have made a (pubic) verbal commitment to a Power 4 program - roughly two weeks earlier than 2026s from last year. Social media account <a href="https://x.com/ImYouthSoccer">IMYouthSoccer </a>has tracked the most recent news on that front and done an exceptional job at keeping close tabs on the speed of recruiting for this class. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The pace of this recruiting battle can feel overwhelming for the uncommitted crew, but there is no reason to panic. Finding the right fit can take time. Club Director David Robertson has some <a href="https://x.com/CoachDR7/status/1830684383390638293">excellent resources </a>(for free) to help 2026s and 2027s looking for guidance. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Arkansas is leading the way in the 2027 class. The Razorbacks already have four verbal commitments for this class. Vanderbilt, Virginia Tech, Michigan, Arizona State, Texas A&amp;M, and Auburn each have three verbal commitments. There are 10 programs with two verbal commitments. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">T<strong>op 5 Recruiting Classes – Class of 2027 (Super Early)</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><thead><tr><th><strong>Rank</strong></th><th><strong>Program</strong></th><th><strong>Notable 2027 Commits</strong></th><th><strong>Summary</strong></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1️⃣</td><td><strong>Stanford</strong></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='144817' first='Brooke' last='S Volpp'], [player_tooltip player_id='28466' first='Vienna' last='Whipple']</td><td>Elite blend of technical quality and tactical maturity. Stanford's 2027 class is already loaded with high-ceiling talent. Whipple was the best player at the recent ECNL playoffs - across any age group. </td></tr><tr><td>2️⃣</td><td><strong>Duke</strong></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='110954' first='Jordyn' last='Sullivan'], Emmy O'Donnell</td><td>A strong early pairing with speed, soccer IQ, and big-game experience. Duke continues to attract top-tier East Coast talent. Two ideal fits for Duke's style of play. Sullivan and O'Donnell could be the key for pushing this program to a National Championship in the near future. </td></tr><tr><td>3️⃣</td><td><strong>Vanderbilt</strong></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='145059' first='Gabrielle' last='Smith'], [player_tooltip player_id='145226' first='Eloise' last='Rubinstein'], [player_tooltip player_id='111511' first='Anslei' last='Knopinski']</td><td>Emerging SEC force with versatile, high-upside players. This class adds depth and game-changing potential.</td></tr><tr><td>4️⃣</td><td><strong>Arkansas</strong></td><td>Alyssa Emo, J<a href="https://www.topdrawersoccer.com/club-player-profile/julia-ivanova/pid-158994">ulia Ivanova</a>, <a href="https://www.topdrawersoccer.com/club-player-profile/janna-robinson/pid-172059">[player_tooltip player_id='289579' first='Janna' last='Robinson']</a>, [player_tooltip player_id='27647' first='Ava' last='Ryan']</td><td>Arkansas coaching staff continues to impress with their ability to identify and recruit players who fit perfectly into roles for their style of play. </td></tr><tr><td>5️⃣</td><td><strong>Virginia Tech</strong></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='157991' first='Ava' last='Martin'], Makayla Rodriguez, [player_tooltip player_id='110270' first='Audra' last='Scholtz']</td><td>A sneaky-strong class early on. Three in-state commits bring grit, scoring touch, and defensive polish to the Hokies.</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Three classes to watch </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Auburn - [player_tooltip player_id='148491' first='Jillian' last='Hutchison'], [player_tooltip player_id='148485' first='Baylee' last='Corcoran']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The fact that Hutchison was continuing to play with such intensity and determination days after making her verbal commitment at the ECNL playoffs speaks volumes to the type of player the Auburn coaching staff is adding to that culture. She's going to force that team into the top of the SEC standings early on in her career.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Texas - [player_tooltip player_id='19625' first='Kai' last='Beary'] </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Beary is an elite goalkeeper and the lone commitment for Texas. She is a top recruit in the nation and could be the start of a tidal wave of commitments heading to Austin as they land one of the best from Southern California to take over at the most important position on the team in the near future. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Penn State - Alexis Fragnito </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another program with only one commitment, but there is plenty of reason to believe that Penn State landed the top player on their board and sits pretty happy heading into the opening of visits in a couple of weeks. Fragnito was the player of the Girls Academy playoffs. She is a do-it-all forward and dominated the play for the last two months every time she stepped on the field. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->